speedy wrote on May 6
th, 2012 at 2:38am:
It looks like NEG/Daisy are going ahead with advising GPs to put an extra line with a geographic number alongside their 0844 - It shows what Dummies these GPs must be to be taken in once again - when all they had to do was migrate to 03 with minimal effort and money spent. Instead they are paying again for the extra geo line- NEG/Daisy are making More Profit and People that are not online dont know if the GP keep quiet about it
Indeed. The fact that the surgery has acquired this geographic number for publication can only be because it knows that it is in breach of its contract by using a number that costs more to call. It could quite easily* switch to a 0344 number without the need to spend anything on an alternative in order to adhere to its contract with the NHS.
* I say that this step could be done "easily". It is comman practice for telephone users to be allowed to switch from a 084 to 034 number within the terms of their contract. I have not seen any evidence to support the view that any provider of GP phone systems makes this difficult by imposing penalties on any customer that wishes to make such a move.
The
Variation to the GMS Contract that applies states:
Quote:29B.2. The Contractor shall—
29B.2.1. before 1st April 2011, review the arrangement and consider whether, having regard to the arrangement as a whole, persons pay more to make relevant calls than they would to make equivalent calls to a geographical number, and
29B.2.2. if the Contractor so considers, take all reasonable steps, including in particular considering the matters specified in sub-clause 29B.3, to ensure that, having regard to the arrangement as a whole, persons will not pay more to make relevant calls than they would to make equivalent calls to a geographical number.
29B.3. The matters referred to in clause 29B.2.2. are—
29B.3.1. varying the terms of the contract or arrangement,
29B.3.2. renegotiating the contract or arrangement, and
29B.3.3. terminating the contract or arrangement.
29B.4. If, despite taking all reasonable steps referred to clause 29B.2.2, it has not been possible to ensure that, having regard to the arrangement as a whole, persons will not pay any more to make relevant calls to the practice than they would to make equivalent calls to a geographical number, the Contractor must consider introducing a system under which if a caller asks to be called back, the Contractor will do so at the Contractor’s expense.
As I say, clearly the surgery offers this alternative because it knows that "having regard to the arrangement as whole, persons pay more to make relevant calls".
In which case, as 29B.2.2 says, it should take all "reasonable" steps to see that persons don't pay more. It has failed to do this as the 0844 number will still be being used by those who pay more. This means that Clause 29B.4. does not come into play because all reasonable steps have not been carried out.
If a severe penalty is imposed by the phone system provider for switching to a 034 number, then clearly this would make it an "unreasonable" step. As I say, I've not heard of any company imposing such terms.
speedy wrote on May 6
th, 2012 at 2:38am:
Dave I couldnt find a geo number on either of the 2 links - have they taken it down already or just done a very good job hiding it.
It is only available on the
NHS Choices page. After the 0844 telephone number it says "or 710013". It does not appear to be on the
company's surgery's website.
Pages: 
GPs all over England (not just in South Yorkshire) (Read 899,043 times)
